Pretty and versatile African-American actress Regina Hall made her breakthrough as Candy, a stripper in "The Best Man" (1999) and gave an unforgettable comedic performance in the "Scary Movie" series, but proved more than just a stripper or scream queen with a varied and challenging list of credits. Born and raised in Washington, DC, Hall began her career with a recurring role on the NYC-shot ABC soap "Loving". In 1997 she had an early primetime credit on Fox's "New York Undercover", also filmed in New York.
Hall made her feature debut with small roles in the 1998 independents "Too Tired to Die" and "Tears of a Clown" before landing her role in "The Best Man" and launching her career. She lent grace and understanding to her portrayal as Lena, the prissy sister of basketball star Monica (Lathan) in Gina Prince-Bythewood's "Love and Basketball" in 2000, the same year she took her comedic abilities to over-the-top heights as a very vocal victim of a serial slasher in the spoof "Scary Movie". Hall's take on a woman getting far too involved in a screening of "Shakespeare in Love" was arguably the film's high point, and the scene certainly resonated with audiences, making her something of a cult hero. The actress reprised the role to less notable effect in the 2001 follow-up "Scary Movie 2" and the 2003 sequel "Scary Movie 3."
Back on the small screen, Hall rejoined Prince-Bythewood and Lathan for the HBO adaptation of Terry McMillan's bestseller "Disappearing Acts" (2000). In the spring of 2001, she began a recurring run on "Ally McBeal," playing a Corretta Lipp, a law associate of Robert Downey Jr.'s Larry Paul. That fall, Hall was made a regular, in the midst of a major cast overhaul promised the actress significant storylines and onscreen exposure--however, Downey's departure left Hall's character with little room to grow, and she was dropped and the series was shuttered not long afterwards. Instead, Hall's career moved significantly back into the feature film realm, with supporting roles in the comedy "The Other Brother" and the crime drama "Paid In Full" (both 2002). Hall then graduated to leading lady status with a spunky turn opposite Jaime Kennedy's B-Rad, the wealthy white boy who fancies himself a ghetto fabulous rapper, in "Malibu's Most Wanted" (2003).
In “King’s Ransom” (2005), she played the dumb and ditzy mistress of a millionaire (Anthony Anderson) whose plot to kidnap himself to avoid a messy divorce goes awry when his many enemies—including his soon-to-be ex-wife (Kellita Smith)—get the same idea. She then appeared as Trixie Norton in the in the rehash of the famed 1950’s sitcom, “The Honeymooners” (2005). Though promising a fresh take on an oldie-but-goodie, the movie was blasted by critics who complained about a lack of chemistry between characters, a subservient bow to political correctness—particularly with Kramden’s famous threat to send Alice to the moon—and a dearth of laughs despite overwhelming comedic talent. She next revived her sex-fiend character, Brenda Meeks, for the inevitable sequel, “Scary Movie 4” (2006). Brenda follows gal pal Cindy Campbell—who’s seeking a career in home healthcare—to a creepy old lady in a creepy old house where they encounter downright bizarre happenings—horrific plane crashes, alien sphincters, even Oprah Winfrey. “Scary Movie 4” took the number one spot on an opening weekend with little competition, taking in a whopping $40 million only to drop almost 60% the following week.